Public Class ExcelTools
    Public Shared Function CreateHiddenExcelApp() As Excel.Application
        Dim xlsapp As Excel.Application = CType(CreateObject("Excel.Application"), Excel.Application)
        With xlsapp
            .ScreenUpdating = False
            .Visible = False
            .ShowStartupDialog = False
            .AlertBeforeOverwriting = False
            .AskToUpdateLinks = False
            .DisplayAlerts = False
        End With
        CreateHiddenExcelApp = xlsapp
    End Function
End Class
